Romney's sister says he wouldn't ban abortion

Mitt Romney's sister Jane, at a National Journal event, said he would not go for a ban on abortion as president:

"He's not going to be touching any of that," she said. "It's not his focus."

Democratic warnings that abortion rights are under threat are an ungrounded fear tactic, Jane Romney said. "That's what women are afraid of, but that's conjured," she said. "Personally, I don't think abortion should be used as a football in the political arena."

Democrats have not lacked fodder for their charges. Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin are among the many Republicans who oppose abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. And the Republican platform adopted this week explicitly calls for a constitutional ban on abortion, saying "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It does not specify any exceptions.

...Jane Romney said she believes "life is sacred" and suggested those seeking abortion should be required to undergo counseling. But she also said abortion should "absolutely" be safe and legal. "Every woman needs to be left to make her own choice," she said.

A ban on abortion is "never going to happen" under a Romney administration, Jane Romney said. "Women would take to the streets. Women fought for our choice, we're not going to go back."

Romney's position is at odds with the GOP platform, something that isn't a first in presidential politics. But his stands on social issues has been, at points, of concern to the GOP base, especially on abortion, and these comments from his relative may not settle it.